It’s better to start with the bad news about Indian food in Tel-aviv, we don’t have much of it. It’s probably due to the fact that there isn’t a big Indian population around to open authentic restaurants. Sadly, some of the existing Indian restaurant are mild in flavors and spices, trying to adapt this heavily spiced cuisine to the Israeli- Mediterranean local flavor preferences.
Now, for the good news, Tel-aviv has some of the most interesting Indian food joints in the world (outside India), from street food style to authentic small family restaurants and even the most appreciated chefs opened Indian version restaurants with their interpretation of this fascinating kitchen.
Here is a short-recommended list of the influential Indian restaurant of Tel-aviv, in which you will get a different unique experience.
#1 Salam Bombay – Authentic family restaurant
Salam Bombay is a small family restaurant, in the kitchen you will notice that the cooks are a husband and his wife (the husband is an Indian Jew).
They cook authentic Mumbai street food as you can see in various places in India, the small places in the big cities and in the villages, not the shiny touristic joints.
On the menu, you will find vegetarian and meat options, both are in a buffet style serving, you bring your plate and get it filled with as much food as you’d like, you will not leave this place hungry.
#2 Ma Pau – Fashionable Indian
Ma Pau was opened by two Indian brothers that are cooking the recipes from their mother’s kitchen.
The restaurant has two branches and in each of them the decor is like an urban fashionable Indian small restaurant with many items on the menu that you can find only in this restaurant like the Franki (rolled bread with filling) and the Ma Pau which is an Indian bun.
The place is located at the Busy Nahalat Binyamin street so it’s nice sitting in the outdoor tables watching the street’s fuss.
#3 Captain Curry – The chef restaurant
Captain Curry is an Indian restaurant from the house of the renowned chef, Jonathan Roshfeld, for which he brings his own personal food explorations and created an Indian menu that reflects his interpretations of this kitchen.
You will find on the menu dishes like ground beef with poached egg, calamari over yogurt, coriander and lime sauce and many more exclusive combinations.
You can find Captain Curry either as a food stand at the Sarona market or on Dizengoff street with a bigger restaurant.
#4 Dosa bar – Street food taken to the next level
Dosa is a Gluten free crepe made out of rice and lentils, it’s a pretty common street food in India, taken here to a chef level performance with a multi-Dosa variations.
The Dosa bar has a wide variety of Dosa options, like the green Dosa with mangold or the red Dosa with beets, as well as classic Indian dishes like Thali, Palak paneer and more.
The Dosa bar is located on the northern part of Ben Yehuda street, a pretty touristy area, but this restaurant is full of mainly local Tel-avivians.
#5 24 Rupee – Best place for families
24 Rupee is an underground restaurant located in an industrial building in south Tel-aviv on Shoken street, decorated as an open space with Indian rags, low sitting sofas and pillows, just as in Indian common local restaurant.
The restaurant is vegetarian and serve only one main dish which is Thali, in a few variations plus a few more first courses like Samosa and desserts like banoffee, pretty straight forward.
You will also find plenty of vegan options in the restaurant which is perfect for kids since they can play around the open space without their parents.
#6 Taizu – Indian Sunday night
Well, Taizu is not an Indian restaurant, it does have far eastern influences but mostly it serves food inspired all over the far east area, not specializing on Indian food.
It’s on the list because they have an Indian Sunday night, in which you can taste some of the chef’s private interpretations to the classic Indian dishes, by far this is the best Indian food in Tel-aviv and we felt you should know about it if you are a true fan of this delicious cuisine.
